Chbistias



(No Model.)

0. HAN IK AF METALLIC FENCE.

$10,289,253. 'PatentedNov. 27,1883.

- INVENTOR 'TTORNEYS.

5 I simple and convenient means for locking the UNITED STATES FFICE...

PATENT CHRISTIAN HANIKA, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HANIKA IRON FENCE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

METALLIC FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 289,253, dated November 2?, 1883.

Application filed June 26, 1883.

[[9 NZ whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN HANIKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will onable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica- My invention relates to improvements in metallic fences.

ing-plate formed integrally with the scroll and provided with the depending filling-piece, as

I will be described.

It consists, further, in other improvements, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a picket to the rail.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the picketand locking devices, the rail being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a back view of the locking device. Fig. 4.- is a view of the picket detachech Fig. 3 shows the position of I the several parts in the operation of building the fence; and Fig. 5 shows the rail, picket, &c., of different forms.

In carrying out my invention I make the rail A with a series of picket-openings to permit the passage of the pickets A, and the said pickets A are provided with a notch or notches, a, of a size to engage the rail in the operation of constructing the fence. The rail maybe made of any suitable shape, but is preferably I 'made in the T shape shown at w in Fig. 5, or the J shape shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and at 2,

Fig. 5. The picket also may be of square, oval, round, or other suitable shape in crosssection, the shape used being, of course, conformed to in punching the holes in the rail.

The locking device consists of the scroll B,

the locking-plate O, which is composed of the yoke 0, connection 0, depending filling-piece (N0 model.)

0', and lug D, which are, by preference, cast or otherwise made integrally, as shown, and of suitable malleable metal. The scroll is of common form, and has the eyes B B formed on its opposite ends to slip over the pickets, as shown in Fig. 1. The locking-plate C is somewhat similar in construction to one shown in my application, No. 90,7 31, for patent for fence, filed April 5, 1883, and it is supported on a brace or connection, 0, which joins it to the scroll B at a point slightly above the middle of the same. The said locking-plate is composed of the yoke c and the depending filling-piece c. The lug D is extended from the scroll at a point below the middle of the latter, and its end is preferably arranged in a vertical line slightly in advance of the forward inner wall of the yoke c of the locking-plate and of the depending filling-piece 0 The yoke c of the locking-plate is preferably broken away or disconnected at its rear side, as shown, providing simply a yoke, the arms of which extend on opposite sides of the picket; but it will be understood that instead of making the piece 0 in yoke form, it might. be made in shape of a ring encircling the picket. Then the several parts are in one piece, as shown, it simplifies the operation of casting as well as of applying the same in building the fence, and a much neater fence is had than where the several parts are detached. use the lug D, as-it gives additional firmness to the fence; but it will be understood that it could be dispensed with where so desired, and the portion of the scroll below the rail be forced in under the same. The part c of the scroll bears against the picket A at a point above the rail or stringer, and forms a brace at such point, as will be seen. I prefer to form this lug or brace integral with the locking-plate; but it will be understood that where so desired the part 0 could be detached from the locking-plate, in which case its function would be that of a brace against the picket above the rail, coacting with the lug D, arranged below the said rail to secure the bracing of the several parts, as will be understood.

In building my fence the lower eye of the scroll is slipped over the picket and followed by the rail, after which the upper eye of the scroll is slipped on and the several parts are moved down until the rail is opposite its notch, the scroll locking-plate and lug D being in about the position shown in Fig. 3. The scroll is then forced down until the filling-piece enters the picket-opening in front of the picket, drawing the rail over, so that the rear wall thereof will enter the notch of the picket and the lug D will escape below the rail, and the several parts will be in about the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3. The scroll is then struck with a sledge or other suitable implement at a point in front of the rail, and is jammed in close against the same, and the scroll, picket. and rail are firmly locked, the operation being simple and the result easily and swiftly accomplished.

It will be seen that a vertical portion, 0 connects the yoke 0 and connection a. This portion rests between the picket and the upward extension of the rail, and where so desired the depending filling-piece 0 may be dispensed with, and this portion 0 be employed to hold the rail in engagement with the notch of picket; but I prefer to employ the said filling-piece, as the fence is thereby made firmer and stronger.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a rail and picket fastening for metallic fences, the locking device composed of the scroll, and the locking-plate formed integral with the said scroll and constructed with the depending filling-piece, and operating substantially as set forth.'

2. In a metallic fence, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the picket having notch a, the rail, and the scroll B, having the connection 0 and lug D, extended therefrom and bearing, respectively, on the upper and under sides of the rail, and also having the locking-plate 0, provided with the depending filling-piece c, all arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN HANIKA. [L s] WVitnesses GEORGE SPENoE, GEORGE E. SPENoE. 

